Chapter 34
Elara's POV
I stood at the mouth of the alley, my heart pounding against my ribs.
This was stupid. So incredibly stupid.
Last time I'd tried to help Kael Harrington, he'd made it crystal clear what he thought of my interference. You shouldn't have gotten involved. I don't need an Omega defending me. His words outside the art building still stung, even now. The cold dismissal in his eyes when I'd tried to stand up for him against his own mother.
I should have learned my lesson then. Should have walked away and left him to handle his own problems.
But here I was again, watching three wolves circle him in a narrow alley like sharks scenting blood.
Different wolves this time. Different insults. But the same rigid control in Kael's posture, the same clenched fists at his sides, the same refusal to fight back even as they tore into him verbally.
"—bastard blood doesn't change just because Daddy claims you," the buzz-cut one was saying. "Everyone knows what you really are."
I could see Kael's jaw working, the muscle jumping beneath his skin. His eyes were cold amber fire, but he didn't move. Didn't respond.
Why didn't he just shift and tear them apart? He was clearly stronger than all three combined. I'd felt his power in the forest that night—raw, controlled, devastating.
So why was he standing there taking it?
I started to turn away. This wasn't my business. He'd made that abundantly clear. If he wanted to play the martyr, that was his problem.
But my feet stopped moving.
Because I needed something from him. Something that had nothing to do with sympathy or some misguided sense of justice.
I needed intel on Black Ridge Forest. And Kael had it—I was almost certain after what I'd seen that night in the woods, given the way Drake had reported back to him and how they’d moved with military precision through the forest. They'd been hunting rogues. Maybe even the same ones who'd attacked Derrick.
I had to scout the forest, locate the pack, and figure out how to eliminate the threat before they struck again.
And I was wasting time because of pride.
I turned back toward the alley, my mind already calculating angles. If I helped him now—saved him from this humiliation—he'd owe me. Maybe not enough to hand over classified intel freely, but enough to negotiate. Enough to get my foot in the door.
This wasn't about him. This was about survival. About doing whatever it took to protect the people I loved.
Even if it meant swallowing my pride and helping someone who'd already rejected my help once.
I took a breath and stepped into the alley.
---
The three wolves turned at the sound of my footsteps. Their eyes tracked me with lazy contempt—the kind predators reserve for prey stupid enough to wander into their territory.
"Well, well," the buzz-cut one drawled. "An Omega. You lost, sweetheart?"
I ignored him. My eyes went straight to Kael.
His reaction was immediate and visceral. Shock flashed across his face, followed by something darker. Recognition. And beneath that, a flash of what looked almost like... panic?
No. Not panic. Anger.
His eyes locked onto mine, and I could practically hear the words forming behind his clenched teeth: Not you. Not again. What the hell are you doing here?
Too bad. I wasn't here for his approval this time.
"Excuse me," I said, keeping my voice steady despite my racing pulse. "My friend's in here. Mind letting us through?"
The scarred wolf—taller than the others, with a vicious-looking mark running down his neck—laughed. "Friend? This piece of shit?" He jerked his thumb at Kael. "What's a little Omega doing claiming Harrington's bastard as a friend?"
I could see the calculation in Kael's eyes now. He knew I was up to something. Knew this wasn't some noble rescue attempt like last time. But he couldn't figure out my angle yet.
Good. Keep him off balance.
I walked forward, closing the distance between us. Kael's eyes widened slightly—he was remembering our last encounter, probably wondering if I'd learned my lesson about interfering in his life.
Before he could react, I slipped my arm through his.
The contact sent a jolt through my entire body. His skin was warm, almost burning hot, and I could feel the tension in his muscles—coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. Every line of his body screamed rejection.
"Yeah," I said, meeting the scarred wolf's gaze without flinching. "My friend. Problem?"
---
"Let go." Kael's voice was barely above a whisper, meant only for me. But I heard the steel underneath. The warning.
I tightened my grip on his arm instead. Leaned in close enough that my lips nearly brushed his ear. Close enough to smell pine and smoke and something darker that made my pulse spike.
"Cooperate," I whispered. "Unless you want to blow your cover and fight three-on-one in the middle of town. Again."
The last word was deliberate. A reminder that this wasn't our first rodeo. That I knew exactly what kind of restraint he was exercising right now.
His breath hitched. I felt his arm twitch beneath my hand, muscles bunching like he was seriously considering throwing me off anyway.
But then something shifted. The tension didn't disappear, but it... changed. Became more controlled.
He wasn't happy. God, he was probably furious. But he wasn't fighting me.
The buzz-cut wolf was watching us with growing amusement. "Oh, this is rich. The great Harrington heir needs an Omega to protect him? What happened, Alpha? Lose your balls along with Mommy's love?"
I felt Kael's entire body go rigid. His breathing changed—shorter, sharper. The wolf in him was right there, barely contained beneath his skin.
Shit. I'd pushed too far. He was going to snap and—
"We're leaving," I said quickly, pulling on his arm. "Come on."
The scarred wolf stepped into our path. "Not so fast, sweetheart. We're not done talking to—"
"Yes, you are." I looked him dead in the eye and let just a sliver of Lynette show through. The part of me that had killed men twice his size and slept soundly afterward.
He blinked. Hesitated.
It was enough.
I tugged on Kael's arm again, and this time he moved. We walked past the three wolves, and I could feel their eyes burning into my back the entire way. Could hear the buzz-cut one muttering something about "crazy Omegas" and "not worth the trouble."
I didn't look back. Not until we were well clear of the alley, fifty meters down the street and around the corner.
The moment we were out of sight, Kael yanked his arm free so hard I stumbled.
"What the hell was that?" His voice was ice-cold fury barely contained.
I caught my balance and turned to face him. My pulse was still racing, adrenaline making my hands shake, but I forced myself to stay calm. To remember why I was doing this.
"That," I said evenly, "was me keeping you from doing something stupid. Again."
His eyes flashed dangerously. "I told you last time—I don't need you to—"
"To what? Save you?" I cut him off, and damn it, my own anger was rising now. "You were just going to stand there and take it? Let them insult you, your family, everything about you, and do nothing?"
"That's none of your business." His jaw clenched so hard I thought I heard his teeth crack. "I can handle my own problems."
"Right." I laughed, and it came out bitter. "Like you handled your mother the other day?"